Book: The Black Ships by A.G. Claymore

A.G. Claymore

about this book: We waited more than half a century after the moon landings before daring to venture out into the black again. We hailed the fledgling colony on Mars as the forerunner of a permanent presence.

Then we lost contact.

We quickly came to realize that we weren't alone, and we weren't among friends.

An unknown force has destroyed the habitats of the Vinland colony and they've set up a toehold in our solar system. As the data trickles in, the danger becomes clear – they're preparing to come to Earth next.

A response must be mounted. A fleet that stretches the current limits of our technical capabilities must be constructed at a cost no single nation could ever hope to afford. As the world teeters on the brink of anarchy, a small army of workers is building a fleet. Even if it’s done in time, nobody knows if it will be enough.

The idea for this story comes from the experiences of the Japanese when they were confronted by European ships in the 16th and 19th centuries. The first wave of ships, in 1543, were painted with pitch and the Japanese came to refer to European ships in general as 'Black Ships'.

Instead of opening trade, as in the case of the Japanese, the nations of Earth decide to mount a resistance to the outside force. Given what had happened to the tiny colony on Mars, it was the logical choice.